Page 44 of A Fierce Princess

“It’s a crown,” I declare.

She laughs and pulls the crown out of the secret place. She leans over and kisses my head. Then, she places it on my head and smiles. I grin. It’s too big, and she keeps her hand on it, so it doesn’t fall down.

“Someday, I will give it to you, Anna,” she says.

“Really?” I ask.

“Really,” she repeats with a smile. “Now, off you go,” she adds as she removes the crown from my head and places it on hers. I run to the door and then turn one more time. I look at her in the mirror as she checks her makeup once more.

“Will you come kiss me goodnight when you get home, Mommy?” I ask her.

She turns to face me. “Of course, my sweet,” she says and blows me a kiss. I catch it and blow her one, and she catches it and brings her hand to her heart. I giggle and run off to find Auggie.

“Anna?” Logan’s voice brings me back to the present.

“Sorry,” I say. “My mother’s crown…tiara.”

“Oh?” he asks. I suddenly feel very claustrophobic. I glance around as though we are being watched, which is ridiculous.

“What?” he asks.

“You want to…uh, get out of here?” I ask.

“Anna, it’s not safe. Pete said—”

I stop him from speaking with a raised hand. “It’s a secret place. We’ll be safe,” I tell him as I stand. I grab the bottle of scotch and place it under my arm as I walk to his bedroom door and open it, peering out into the hallway to check for one of the guards my father now has everywhere on the property. Seeing the immediate coast is clear, I walk into the hall across from his room and feel along the wall until I find it. I press a part of the wall, and it pops open.

“Holy shit!” he exclaims from the door.

“A countess lived here two hundred years ago. She had the tunnel installed so she could sleep with her husband’s best friend who often came and stayed at the palace,” I explain. I turn on the light on my cell phone and enter the dark, dusty passage. “You coming?” I call out behind me. We walk down a set of stairs.

I hear his footsteps as I continue walking. He’s quiet as we make our way through the tunnel of mazes until I reach the door that I’ve been looking for, the door that leads out to the back garden. We are technically still within the walls of the palace, or at least the original palace walls. I laugh to myself. I walk up a few stairs and find the exit I have been searching for.

I open the door with a mighty shove and moonlight seeps inside.

“Anna,” Logan whispers.

“It’s OK,” I reply as I walk out into the garden maze. This maze has a small building in the center of it and one wall is actually faux as it blocks this secret passage. I walk into the enclosure which is open to the outside and follow a path into the garden. It’s chilly, and I suddenly wish I had grabbed a coat or blanket. I step toward a bench and sit down, placing the bottle of scotch on the ground after pouring more into my glass. I lean back and close my eyes. The crickets chirp and an owl hoots in the distance, but otherwise the night is quiet and calm.

“Anna?” Logan says.

I open my eyes, and he’s standing before me. The moonlight illuminates his face, and he looks so incredibly handsome that I want to jump up and kiss him.

I clear my throat and thank god that I’m in the shadows, so he can’t see my blush. “I just wanted to get some fresh air,” I say.

“Where are we?” he asks, looking around us.

“The maze in the back garden,” I say. I lift the bottle and nod at him. He brings his glass to me, and I pour scotch into it.

He sits down next to me, the heat from his body feels delicious against my cold skin.

“You’re cold,” he states. He wraps an arm around me, and I snuggle against him, leaning my head on his shoulder.

“So?” I ask. “Tell me a secret.”

“My secrets aren’t as grand as yours,” he retorts.

“You are living the life you want to live,” I say to him. I immediately regret my statement.

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